Kasparov Granted Croatian Citizenship

This week Garry Kasparov was granted citizenship by the Republic of Croatia. The former world champion turned human rights activist is running for FIDE President, and wrote on his website that he did not want to “depend on Putin's Foreign Ministry” anymore while campaigning. The news was posted on the Russian version of Kasparov's personal website, and also reported by The Guardian.

“The bodies of the Republic of Croatia handed me a passport of their state. I am grateful to the government of Croatia for their invaluable help in such an important and crucial moment for me: the campaign for the FIDE presidency entered its active phase, during which I will visit yet some thirty countries - in these circumstances, it would be prohibitively expensive to depend on Putin's Foreign Ministry. I should be able at any time to cancel my Russian passport,”

wrote Kasparov (50) on his website on Friday. Even though he is not travelling to his home country for the time being, he is not intending to renounce his Russian citizenship. With his Croatian passport Kasparov expects to be able to travel more freely.

Although he prefers to be called human rights activist, Kasparov has played an active role in the opposition to Putin's government. He was among several protesters who were arrested in August 2012, while standing outside the court in Moscow where members of the protest band Pussy Riot were being sentenced. In November 2007 he spent five days in jail for protesting on behalf of The Other Russia, an umbrella coalition that gathered opponents of Putin.

Kasparov has had strong ties with Croatia for a long time. In 1992, during the Yugoslav war, he participated in the creation of a refugee fund of the city of Vukovar. A year later he was made an honorary citizen of the city, and two years later he was awarded the state award of Croatia.

Besides, Kasparov has a summer residence in the southern Croatian town of Makarska and he speaks the language. In January he met with the Croatian president, Ivo Josipović, who praised him for providing “great moral support to Croatia” during the country's war of independence.

According to The Guardian, earlier Kasparov had applied for Latvian citizenship, but the Latvian government announced in November it would not grant him citizenship owing to "procedural issues".

"Not much Chess in this article, this post looks like a write up for a political blog or maybe a 'celebrities on chess' blog, but not chess at all. Keep the subjects in what you really shine on and are super stars: "Chess", please leave politics for other places"

One can't just censor news concerning chess players based on political views. There were lots of articles when Fischer was granted Icelandic citizenship, and no one suggested that this was something one should be silent about since Fischer had been critical of American politics.

I would like to think that Kasparov has become a different person over his 50 years. He was at the center of many imploding organizations over the years - almost certainly due to his massive ego - but now he has taken genuine risks. It could be that he realized trying to oppose Putin would likely lead to his death, and is now competing in FIDE to try and add to his legacy and self-actualization somewhere less dangerous.

Kasparov was not bombing Belgrade, but he was happy with it. It was good public attitude then, because he benefited from it now. Genius! Fischer had some passport problem as well, they were both great chess players. I hope that Kasparov is not buried far away from his home like Fischer.

About Karpov. Sorry, it was my mistake. I wrongly remembered Karpov's interview, which I've now rechecked.

Karpov said that he became a Party member in 1979, at the age of 28, already twice world champion and not because he applied, but because he was asked to.

While Kasparov joined the Party at the age of 18, purely opportunistically.

Anyway, in no case and never Kasparov was a dissident, a human right activist or anything he tries to pose now.

He had a huge negative impact on the liberal movement in Russia at least twice:

First in 1991 when he was the Russian Democratic Party's leader and sabotaged the party's work.

Later in 2005-2008 when he failed to unite the opposition due to his ZERO diplomatic and organizational abilities.

All he achieved well was selling himself to Western media.

He will be an absolutely awful FIDE president.

"I don't understand why some people feel so threatened by this article and see it as smearing Russia. It simply mentions that the probably greatest chess player ever has been granted Croatian citizenship.

I repeat that I agree with this. The article is neutral.

"Their political differences were also clear. Mr. Kasparov has resigned from the Communist Party and has announced that he will play under the flag of his homeland, the Russian republic, and not the Soviet flag, which he has said ''represents oppression and tyranny.''

It was as late as 1990, Perestroyka and Yeltsin rising to power. Kasparov did not take any risks, he just did anything to embarass and tar Karpov.

"Garik Kimovich Weinstein should go to Azerbeijan, since he was born in Baku. But, he is not Azer, nor Russian, and sure he is not croatian. The whole purpose of this "article" is an attempt to smear sovereign nation of Russia"

So he should go to Baku because he was born there? I don't understand why some people feel so threatened by this article and see it as smearing Russia. It simply mentions that the probably greatest chess player ever has been granted Croatian citizenship.

So now Karpov was never a member of the Communist party? :-) I doubt that quotes are needed but here's one anyway:

"Their political differences were also clear. Mr. Kasparov has resigned from the Communist Party and has announced that he will play under the flag of his homeland, the Russian republic, and not the Soviet flag, which he has said ''represents oppression and tyranny.'' On Monday, Mr. Kasparov said ''Karpov represents the power authorities.'' Mr, Karpov, a Communist Party member, will be playing under the Soviet flag"

Kasparov fought for democracy in the Soviet Union at a time when such toughts were considered treaon. This alone shows more courage than you will see from most anybody you will ever meet in your life. In his day, he was considered a hopeless idealist. Now, with the USSR fallen, Garry is proven to be a visionary.

And still he continues to fight for the weak and downtrodden. Both in Russia, and abroad.

While most World Chess Champions habe been content to hide in the shadows, Kasparov alone has had the integrity to use his influence for the betterment of humanity.

Forgive me if my respect for this man is not lessened by the whimpering of a couple nine-year-olds on a random Chess forum.

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